Examiner Staff Writer If election fraud is reported in the Washington region on Tuesday, federal prosecutors are ready to handle the complaints.
Each local U.S. Attorney’s Office has designated a district election officer to oversee responses to allegations of voting abuses. They’re charged with coordinating with state, local and other federal officials to prevent and respond to election fraud.
The area prosecutors designated as district election officers are Tonya Kelly Kowitz in Maryland, Matthew C. Solomon in D.C. and James P. Gillis in Alexandria.
During early voting and on Election Day, the main duties of a district officer are to be available to take complaints from the public and work with local officials monitoring the polls for allegations of fraud, Kowitz said.
The Justice Department tries to prevent fraud by making it clear that the department takes voting abuses seriously, officials said.
“We hope that that has a deterrent effect and encourages people to not engage in voter fraud,” Kowitz said.
Many complaints that are brought to the district officers are not federal crimes, but the officers can direct callers to the appropriate state or local election monitor.
Officials are hoping for an Election Day with few fraud reports.
“I make myself available and I hope that nobody needs me,” Kowitz said.
People who want to report instances of election fraud can call the following numbers:
» In D.C., Solomon at 202-353-2457 or the FBI’s Washington office at 202-278-2000.
» In Maryland, Kowitz at 410-209-4800 or the FBI at 410-265-8080.
» In Northern Virginia, Gillis at 703-299-3700 or the FBI’s Washington office.
» The Department of Justice’s civil rights division will take complaints about discrimination or access to ballots at 800-253-3931 or 877-267-8971.
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10/30/10 20:00:00 PM
